[ *43 ] 
In confequence of this hint, I fet about the pro- 
curing more particular information from [the Arabs 
of this place ; and the refult of my enquiry was, 
that the practice of inoculation had been of long 
ftanding among them. They indeed did not pretend 
to affigp any period to its origin ; but thofe of feventy 
years old and upwards remembered to have heard it 
fpoken of as a common cuftom of their anceftors, 
and made little doubt of its being of as ancient a date 
as the difeafe itfelf. Their manner of operating is, 
to make feveral pundures in fome flefhy part, with, 
a needle imbued in variolous matter, taken from a. 
favourable kind of pock. They ufe no preparation 
of the body ; and the difeafe communicated in this 
way being, as they aver, always flight, they give 
themfelves little or no trouble about the child in the. 
fubfequent ftages of the diftemper. 
This method of procuring the difeafe is termed, 
buying the fmall pox, on the following account. 
The child to be inoculated carries a few raifins, 
dates, fugar plumbs, or fuch like, and fhewingthem 
to the child from whom the matter is to be taken, 
afks how many pocks he will give in exchange. 
The bargain being made, they proceed to the ope- 
ration. When the parties are too young to fpeak for 
themfelves, the bargain is made by the mothers. 
This ceremony, which is ftill pradifed, points out a 
reafon for the name given to inoculation by the Arabs; 
but, by what I could learn among the women, it is 
not regarded as indifpenfably neceflary to the fuccefs 
of the operation, and is in fad often omitted. 
The 
